Mouthwash and toothpaste dispenser

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a dental hygiene apparatus that integrates a mechanical toothpaste dispenser and an automated mouthwash dispenser into a single compact unit for efficient storage and dispensing of oral care products. The apparatus comprises a body containing multiple compartments, including a toothpaste storage compartment, a mouthwash storage compartment, and a control box for housing electronic components. This combined toothpaste and mouthwash dispenser apparatus offers a convenient, efficient, and intelligent approach to maintaining and promoting dental hygiene, improving the overall oral care experience for users.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 63/325,325, filed 30 Mar. 2022.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to dental hygiene and oral care,and more specifically to an apparatus for storing, dispensing, andmonitoring oral care products such as toothpaste and mouthwash in aconvenient, efficient, and intelligent manner.

BACKGROUND

Dental hygiene is crucial for maintaining overall health, as it helpsprevent various oral diseases and contributes to a person's well-being.Tooth decay, cavities, and gum diseases are common problems that can bemitigated through proper dental care, including regular brushing andrinsing with mouthwash. Toothpaste and mouthwash play significant rolesin preventing tooth decay, with fluoride in toothpaste strengtheningteeth enamel and mouthwash aiding in overall oral hygiene.

Conventional toothpaste storage and dispensing methods, such as usingtubes, present several disadvantages. Users often struggle to extracttoothpaste from the tube as it nears depletion, and the tube maycollapse or rupture due to repeated squeezing. Additionally, the manualsqueezing process can be time-consuming and cumbersome. Similarly,mouthwash storage bottles can be inconvenient to use, as they requirepouring the liquid into a separate container or cap for consumption.

There is a need for an innovative solution that addresses these issuesand streamlines the oral care process by providing an efficient,user-friendly method of storing and dispensing oral care products. Thepresent invention aims to meet this need by combining a toothpastedispenser and an automatic mouthwash dispenser into a single apparatus,thereby simplifying and enhancing the oral care experience.

Several attempts have been made to develop improved toothpastedispensers and mouthwash dispensers, but these efforts typically addressonly one aspect of oral care. For example, some inventions focus ondeveloping a more efficient toothpaste dispenser but neglect toincorporate mouthwash dispensing capabilities. Similarly, otherinventions may tackle the issue of mouthwash dispensing but not considertoothpaste storage and dispensing. Thus, there is a gap in the marketfor a single apparatus that effectively integrates both toothpaste andmouthwash dispensing.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,896,196B2 describes a dispensing system which utilizes acontroller in conjunction with a photodetector in order to provideautomatic dispensing to a user when an object enters a target area. Acontroller is programmed to pulse a light source that is mountedproximate the photodetector. The controller constantly monitors thevoltage at the receiving signal of the photodetector, and evaluates thedifference in voltage from the light pulsed on and off. The controllersums the differences, and constantly updates the differences over adesignated period to create an average difference value. The averagedifference value is summed with a target offset value and compared to amomentary voltage difference. When the momentary difference exceeds thesum of the target offset value and average difference, the controllersends a signal to a dispense mechanism which dispenses a fluid or otherproduct on the object.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,714,413B2 describes a liquid dispenser having a bodycapable of attaching to an upright support surface. The body having atop wall, sidewalls, and a bottom wall, and a first orifice present inthe bottom wall. The first orifice leads into an intermediary chambersaid intermediary chamber having a second orifice. The second orificemay be located substantially opposite said first orifice. Theintermediary chamber having an open end for admitting a controlmechanism, with the control mechanism axially or reciprocally disposedwithin the intermediary chamber. Also present is a refill opening thatis disposed along the sidewalls.

US20200197966A1 describes a fluid dispenser includes a housing, a pump,an outlet nozzle, a reservoir, a liquid passage, an air passage, and arefill container. The pump and reservoir are attached to the housing,and both the outlet nozzle and the reservoir are in fluid communicationwith the pump. The reservoir has at least one engagement member, and theliquid passage and the air passage are located in the engagement member.The refill container has at least one sealing member, and the refillcontainer is configured to be releasably attached to the reservoir suchthat the refill container is in fluid communication with the reservoir.When the refill container is attached to the reservoir, the engagementmember engages the sealing member to cause the liquid passage and theair passage to be in fluid communication with the refill container.

EP1920692A1 discloses a dispenser comprising a tube with a mouth pieceand a housing with an opening and a positioning unit in the middle forthe tube. There is a switch, a motor, a drive device and a control unit.The opening has a brush for loading of semi-fluid medium. The housingmay have a back wall, side walls which are linked to the back wall, aswell as a base and a cover plate. The drive device may comprise numerousgears.

It is within this context that the present invention is provided.

SUMMARY

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a combinedtoothpaste and mouthwash dispenser apparatus that offers a convenientand efficient method of storing, dispensing, and monitoring oral careproducts, thereby improving the overall oral care experience.

Another objective of the invention is to incorporate intelligentfeatures, such as automatic user presence detection, product levelmonitoring, and wireless communication with electronic devices,enhancing the functionality and convenience of the apparatus.

A further objective is to minimize product waste, minimize thelikelihood of toothpaste tube collapse or rupture, and simplify thedispensing process through vacuum dispensing or motor-based solutionsfor toothpaste and automated dispensing systems for mouthwash. This alsohelps to reduce the effort and time required to access and dispensetoothpaste and mouthwash, making the process more appealing andencouraging better oral care habits, and eliminating the need for manualpouring and minimizing spills or contamination.

An additional objective is to provide an all-in-one compact solutionthat saves space and includes a cup holder for holding disposable cupsto facilitate mouthwash use.

Finally, the invention aims to facilitate user engagement in dentalhygiene routines by allowing the apparatus to monitor usage and enablingusers to easily keep track of their oral care habits through connectedapplications.

To achieve these aims, the present invention provides a combinedtoothpaste and mouthwash dispenser apparatus that integrates bothmechanical toothpaste dispensing and automated mouthwash dispensingsystems. The apparatus comprises a body with multiple compartments fortoothpaste, mouthwash, and control box housing electronic components.Refillable storage compartments are securely covered by a lid.

Enhanced features of the invention may include sensors for detectinguser presence, identifying user requirements, dispensing oral careproducts, and monitoring product levels in the compartments. Theapparatus may be capable of wirelessly communicating with electronicdevices, such as smartphones or personal computers, to transferinformation and notifications related to product levels and usage.Furthermore, the apparatus includes a cup holder for disposable cups,providing an all-in-one space-saving solution.

To implement these features, electronic circuitry, including amicrocontroller, supports the functionality of the apparatus and managesvarious components, such as DC pumps for dispensing mouthwash andinitiating cleaning operations. The apparatus can be powered byrechargeable/replaceable batteries or plugged into a power socket.

In summary, the present invention addresses the disadvantages associatedwith conventional toothpaste and mouthwash storage and dispensingmethods by providing a user-friendly, integrated apparatus with enhancedfeatures. This invention has the potential to improving daily dentalhygiene practices, making oral care more efficient, convenient, andengaging for users of all ages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the followingdetailed description and accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first isometric view of an example configuration ofthe oral care dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second isometric components view of the oral caredispensing apparatus with detachable parts removed.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the oral care dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the oral care dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top-down view of the oral care dispensingapparatus.

FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom view of the oral care dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 7 illustrates an isometric view of a detachable toothpaste storagecover of the oral care dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 8 illustrates an isometric view of a mouthwash storage compartmentof the oral care dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 9 illustrates an isometric view of a main body housing of the oralcare dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 10 illustrates an isometric view of a detachable cup dispenser ofthe oral care dispensing apparatus.

Common reference numerals are used throughout the figures and thedetailed description to indicate like elements. One skilled in the artwill readily recognize that the above figures are examples and thatother architectures, modes of operation, orders of operation, andelements/functions can be provided and implemented without departingfrom the characteristics and features of the invention, as set forth inthe claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments toillustrate the principles of the invention. The embodiments are providedto illustrate aspects of the invention, but the invention is not limitedto any embodiment. The scope of the invention encompasses numerousalternatives, modifications and equivalent; it is limited only by theclaims.

Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, theinvention may be practiced according to the claims without some or allof these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technicalmaterial that is known in the technical fields related to the inventionhas not been described in detail so that the invention is notunnecessarily obscured.

Definitions

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the term “and/or” includes any combinations of one or moreof the associated listed items.

It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or“comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but donot preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

The terms “first,” “second,” and the like are used herein to describevarious features or elements, but these features or elements should notbe limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish onefeature or element from another feature or element. Thus, a firstfeature or element discussed below could be termed a second feature orelement, and similarly, a second feature or element discussed belowcould be termed a first feature or element without departing from theteachings of the present disclosure.

The terms ‘apparatus’, ‘device’, and ‘dispenser’ may be usedinterchangeably throughout this document. The term ‘oral hygieneproducts/solutions’ may be used to represent both ‘toothpaste’ and‘mouthwash’.

The present invention relates generally to dental hygiene apparatuses,and more particularly, to a dental hygiene apparatus that integrates amechanical toothpaste dispenser and an automated mouthwash dispenserinto a single compact unit for efficient storage and dispensing of oralcare products.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth toprovide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be practicedwithout these specific details. In other instances, well-known featureshave not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1 through FIG. 4 , various views of an exampleconfiguration of the oral care product dispensing apparatus of thepresent disclosure are shown.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the apparatus comprises a body (100) containingmultiple compartments, including a toothpaste storage compartment (110)formed of a detachable cover, a mouthwash storage compartment (120), anda control box (130) for housing electronic components that control theworking of the apparatus. The body (100) is made of a durable andeasy-to-clean material, such as plastic, metal, or a combinationthereof.

The toothpaste storage compartment (110) is designed to hold atoothpaste reservoir that can be easily refilled by the user. Themechanical toothpaste dispenser (140) includes an exterior pushbuttonmechanism for dispensing toothpaste. The toothpaste may be dispensed viavacuum dispensing or by using a motor-based solution. The mouthwashstorage compartment (120) holds a mouthwash reservoir that can also berefilled by the user. The automated mouthwash dispenser (150) comprisesa battery-powered infrared sensor and a pump/valve system that detectswhen a human hand or cup (160) is positioned below a nozzle of thedispenser (150) and automatically dispenses mouthwash.

Additionally, the apparatus includes a cup holder (170) for holdingdisposable cups that may be used for mouthwash, further increasing theconvenience of the apparatus. The cup holder (170) may be attached tothe exterior of the body (100), and the cup (160) may be held under themouthwash dispenser (150) as shown.

FIG. 2 shows some components in more detail in an exploded view.

As can be seen, the toothpaste storage compartment (110) is detachableto facilitate changing of containers once one is empty. It can bemounted to the housing (100) via magnetic attachment points (112) andslide rails and protects the toothpaste container from being dislodgedfrom the dispensing mechanism (140).

The main body (100) has an opening (102) formed in the front wall for auser to place their toothbrush to catch dispensed toothpaste. The mainbody (100) also has a catch tray (104) that doubles as a shelf forplacing the cup (160) beneath the nozzle of the mouthwash dispenser(150).

The mouthwash storage compartment comprises a removable cap (122) and acover (124) to enable quick and easy refilling of the reservoir. It alsohas a glass fronted portion (126) in the present example to allow usersto visually monitor the current fluid levels. A mini DC pump connectedto the controller may be used to control the dispensing operation forthe mouthwash, dispensing it through a system of pipes. Alternatively anopening with a solenoid valve could be used.

The cup holder (170) also has a glass fronted portion (172) and aremovable cap (174) with a snap lock (176).

Another optional feature of the example configuration is the provisionof a toothpick storage box (132) on the front of the body (100), and anLED indicator (134) for showing when the device is turned on.

The control box (130) houses the electronic components, including amicrocontroller, such as an ESP32-WROOM, and related circuitry thatenables the working of the sensors and related components of theapparatus. The microcontroller is programmed to manage the working ofall the other components and receives inputs and sends outputinstructions to various components connected to it via connection pins.Other components of the apparatus may include a battery percentageidentifier, power converter, infrared sensors, and cleaning initiationcircuitry.

The apparatus further includes a plurality of sensors to detect thepresence of a user, identify user requirements, and dispense one or moreoral hygiene products stored within the apparatus intelligently. Sensorsprovided within the storage compartments may be capable of continuouslymonitoring the amount of product remaining within the compartment. Upondetecting low storage, the device may be configured to communicate thesame to a user's personal electronic device.

The apparatus may be powered by means of a rechargeable or replaceablebattery, or it may be plugged into a power socket. Furthermore, theapparatus may wirelessly communicate with electronic devices of theusers, such as smartphones or personal computers, to transferinformation between the device and the user electronic device.

Referring to FIG. 7 -FIG. 10 , various isometric views are shown ofindividual components of the example configuration of the oral careproduct dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 7 illustrates an isometric view of a detachable toothpaste storagecover (110) of the oral care dispensing apparatus. As can be seen, it ismounted on rails that are configured to lock to the top of the main body(100) and is secured there with magnetic fittings (112).

FIG. 8 illustrates an isometric view of a mouthwash storage compartment(120) of the oral care dispensing apparatus. As can be seen, it is asealed chamber with a glass fronted portion (126) for viewing the liquidlevels. At the bottom is a valve opening (128) that connects to theautomatic dispenser. At the side is a protrusion for interlocking withthe cup holder (170)

FIG. 9 illustrates an isometric view of a main body housing (100) of theoral care dispensing apparatus. As can be seen, it comprises variousprecisely formed protrusions and chambers for interconnecting with theother parts of the apparatus. A pair of rails (106) are positioned atopfor locking in the toothpaste storage cover (110) and a pre-formedchamber (108) rests directly underneath for catching any missedtoothpaste. The control box (130) for storing the circuitry is formedaround the space for the mouthwash dispenser (120), above drip tray(104).

FIG. 10 illustrates an isometric view of a detachable cup dispenser(170) of the oral care dispensing apparatus. There is a protrusion (178)on the side wall exterior for interlocking with the mouthwash chamber(120).

In one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a service/maintenancebutton for initiating cleaning of the storage compartments. A mini DCpump connected to this button is operated to push a water flow through apiping system into the compartments for the purpose of cleaning them.This feature ensures that the apparatus remains clean and hygienic forcontinued use.

The apparatus includes a plurality of wired connections to transferpower to the device and to aid data communication between varioussensors and electronic/electrical components. These connections ensurethe seamless functioning of the apparatus and its various components.

The microcontroller may include one or more processors to process thedata received from the sensors and perform the operations programmed bythe user. The processors may include, but are not limited to, digitalsignal processors (DSPs), microprocessors, special-purpose computerchips, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specificintegrated circuits (ASICs), computers, various analog to digitalconverters, digital to analog converters, and other support circuits.

A memory module may be provided to store and run instructions providedby the user during processing. The memory may store any number of piecesof information, data, applications, instructions, or the like forenabling the system to carry out various functions in accordance withvarious example embodiments.

The apparatus may communicate through wired or wireless networks withpaired electronic devices such as smartphones. In one implementation,the network may be a wireless network, a wired network, or a combinationthereof. The network may be implemented as one of several types ofnetworks, such as an intranet, local area network (LAN), wide areanetwork (WAN), the internet, and the like.

The apparatus saves space, time, and effort when it comes to maintainingand promoting oral hygiene. The apparatus helps in maintaining anadequate stock of oral hygiene products through its monitoring andnotifying functionalities. The apparatus further saves space byproviding an all-in-one compact solution. The apparatus may also helpusers keep track of their dental hygiene routine by allowing theapparatus to monitor usage and by letting users easily keep track of theusage by means of connected applications.

In summary, the proposed apparatus provides an integrated solution forstoring and dispensing dental hygiene products, making the process ofmaintaining oral hygiene more convenient, efficient, and enjoyable forusers. The compact design of the apparatus allows for easy installationand use in various settings, such as homes, offices, and hotels. Theintelligent features of the apparatus, such as the monitoring of productlevels and the ability to communicate with personal electronic devices,provide users with a modern, technologically advanced solution forpromoting dental health and hygiene.

While the invention has been described in connection with specificembodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of furthermodifications and this application is intended to cover any variations,uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, theprinciples of the invention and including such departures from thepresent disclosure as come within known or customary practice within theart to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to theessential features hereinbefore set forth and as follows in the scope ofthe appended claims.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical terms) usedherein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one havingordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and thepresent disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overlyformal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The disclosed embodiments are illustrative, not restrictive. Whilespecific configurations of the apparatus have been described in aspecific manner referring to the illustrated embodiments, it isunderstood that the present invention can be applied to a wide varietyof solutions which fit within the scope and spirit of the claims. Thereare many alternative ways of implementing the invention.

It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention hereindescribed are merely illustrative of the application of the principlesof the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustratedembodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, whichthemselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An combined dispenser apparatus for storing anddispensing mouthwash and toothpaste, comprising: a housing includingseparate compartments, the compartments including a toothpaste storagecompartment, a mouthwash storage compartment, and a control box forhousing electronic components that control the working of the apparatus;a toothpaste dispensing mechanism operatively connected to thetoothpaste storage compartment, the dispensing mechanism including aplunger or similar mechanism; a mouthwash dispensing mechanismoperatively connected to the mouthwash storage compartment, including asensor for detecting the presence of a user and a mini DC pump and/orsolenoid valve for accurately and efficiently dispensing the desiredamount of mouthwash; a controller operatively coupled to the sensor, thecontroller being configured, in response to a detection of the presenceof a user the sensor, to operate the pump/valve system to dispense fluidfrom the mouthwash storage compartment in response to said detection;wherein the device can be operated with a single hand.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1, further comprising a cup holder attached to the exterior ofthe apparatus for holding disposable cups to be used for mouthwash. 3.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the toothpaste dispensing mechanismincludes a chamber for affixing a toothpaste reservoir and an exteriorpushbutton mechanism for dispensing the toothpaste.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the sensor for detecting the presence of a user is aninfrared sensor.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatusincludes a plurality of sensors for detecting the presence of a user,and wherein the controller is configured to identify user requirements,and dispense one or more oral hygiene products stored within theapparatus intelligently.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theapparatus is configured to wirelessly communicate with electronicdevices of users, such as smartphones or personal computers, to transferinformation between the apparatus and the user electronic device.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus further comprises a wirelesscommunications module operatively coupled to the controller, and whereinthe controller is further configured to monitor the amount of productsremaining within the storage compartments via the sensor and communicatethe refilling requirements to a user's personal electronic device. 8.The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lid provided on the topside of the apparatus to securely cover the storage compartments.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is powered by one of arechargeable battery, a replaceable battery, or a connection to a powersocket.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising aservice/maintenance button for initiating cleaning of the storagecompartments, wherein a DC pump connected to the button is operated topush a water flow through a piping system into the compartments for thepurpose of cleaning them.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thetoothpaste dispensing mechanism dispenses toothpaste via one of a vacuumdispensing system or a motor-based solution.
 12. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the automatic mouthwash dispensing mechanism is configured todispense mouthwash upon detecting the user removing a cup from the cupholder or the user placing a cup near the outlet of the dispenser. 13.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of the storagecompartments has a glass viewing window installed in a side wall toallow a user to view the amount of product remaining.